Covenant Updates: Read three documents by selecting the links below.
The HOA Covenants are being updated to comply with State of Colorado law and your vote will soon be required. The changes will:
Preserve and enhance property values
Strengthen enforcement and reduce risk
Promote fairness and community harmony
Maintain low HOA management fees
Officially, there are 3 documents that make up the Covenants: 1) Declaration , 2) Bylaws, and 3) Rules. The Declaration are policies for what you can and can't do with your property, the Bylaws are how the HOA governs itself, and Rules are how to handle everyday details. They are voted on separately.
Select link: The PDF file will open in a new tab. You can then read, download, or print the document.
Please fill out this form if you have any questions or concerns and a working group member will get back to you. Questions and Concerns Form
Highlights of Changes
Why change the Covenants? The Trails HOA Covenants have been out of compliance with State of Colorado laws since 2022. Colorado HOAs must follow applicable federal and state laws.
Why do Covenants matter for a Self-Managed HOA? The Covenants help protect property values, preserve the neighborhood's character, and provide the Board with a clear, consistent way to operate. For 30+ years, the Board has been self-managed with volunteer participation managing themselves in a cost-effective manner.
Besides compliance laws, what are significant changes of interest? Other changes have been included to concur with Jefferson County rules and secure the neighborhood for another 30+ years. The 2026 Board approved these changes. Notable changes include Pets and Livestock policy, Short and Long Term Rentals, Common Areas behind lots, Recreational Vehicles, and suggestions for landscape/xeriscaping/wildfire preparedness/fire mitigation.
NOTE: Board approval and neighbor concurrence are required for all updates.
How can owners obtain exceptions to the Covenants? Owners can request a written exception, called a variance, from the Board. Approval requires a Board vote and agreement from neighbors with a direct line of sight.
When will owners vote? Only the policy document, or Declaration, requires a vote in October. It will require 72 of our 96 homes, one vote per home property, to reach 75% approval. A paper copy of the Covenants with voting instructions will be delivered to each home in September.
What If the Vote Does Not Pass? If a homeowner votes against it, we kindly request that they provide us alternatives to the policy they don’t support. Our goal is to make the Covenants work for everyone while being in compliance with the State of Colorado.
Are Covenants and an HOA required? Our HOA is a non-profit corporation, as amended and restated in Jefferson County, and we are legally required to have a managed HOA and community rules. The alternative to having a volunteer Board is to hire an outside HOA management company which will increase fees for owners.